As Delta State and the local community are gearing up for the inauguration of President William N. LaForge on Nov. 1, first lady Nancy LaForge will also be paying tribute to the rich architectural and art history on the university’s striking campus — a campus the LaForge’s now call home.

“I walk here everyday. That’s my happy place,” said Nancy. “I especially love walking around the quad and that’s when I began to notice the beauty of Delta State. If you slow down a little you can appreciate the similarity and unification of architectural elements on campus.”

The first lady, along with University Archivist Emily Jones and Art Department Chair Ron Koehler, will be leading the First Lady’s Campus Architectural History and Arts Walking Tour at 10 a.m. on Oct. 30, beginning on the east side of the Bologna Performing Arts Center.

The trio will be providing details on some of the most unique architectural designs on campus, as well as some intriguing artistic elements like The Hazel and Jimmy Sanders Sculpture Garden and old presidential portraits.

“The theme for inauguration is ‘Celebrating Excellence’ and we felt it was appropriate to celebrate the excellent art and architecture we have,” said Nancy. “We want to show it off to every visitor who comes to Delta State.

“Some of these buildings have classic designs that have been around a very long time, and we want them to stay around for a long time too.”

Nancy has been preparing for her tour by researching from two main sources — “Physical Facilities: Delta State University” by Hugh C. Smith and “A Pictorial History of Delta State University” by Jack Winton Gunn and Gladys C. Castle.

All authors are former faculty and staff members at the university, and Smith is credited with establishing the uniform brick color specially designed for Delta State.

Jones said that the first lady’s tour is very timely considering the university will soon be celebrating 90 years.

“Nancy LaForge’s vision for this walking tour is perfect timing,” said Jones. “We are looking to celebrate 90 years on this campus and several of our buildings were constructed in those early, formative years.

“Studying the architecture around us, we can see what was important to generations before us. Education was of utmost importance and that is reflected in the careful construction of our halls and dormitories.

“Blending into that background of architecture is the artwork and statuary that has been incorporated over the years. We have portraits painted by famous artists adorning walls of offices and sculpture by up-and-coming artists. I am looking forward to the blending of the humanities presented in the walk.”

As a fellow tour leader with an expertise in art, Koehler said he’s also looking forward to paying recognition to the university’s distinctive sculptures.

“Delta State has many outstanding bragging points, and one is definitely the outdoor sculptures displayed across campus,” said Koehler. “There are 10 new sculptures by nine artists that were installed in front of BPAC in August as part of the 6th Outdoor Sculpture Biennial.

“We also have 21 other sculpture pieces that are part of the DSU Permanent Collection. I am grateful to the Sanders family for their generous endowment of the sculpture garden.”

There are talks that the tour could eventually be developed into a mobile app interactive experience available for future visitors to campus. The concept could become a potential tourist attraction for visitors beyond Delta State, especially if completed before the 2015 opening of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi.

“I think it would be a great project if it was done in collaboration with some community groups,” said Nancy. “A lot of this goes back to the town-gown relationship we have. Delta State has a great history significant in and of itself, but also in Cleveland.”

In the short term, the first lady is looking forward to hosting her first tour and joining in the inauguration fun.

“I’m very proud of the architectural beauty of Delta State University and I welcome the opportunity to share the experience with visitors to campus, Cleveland and the state of Mississippi,” she said. “We invite everyone to join all three of us leading the tour as we walk our wonderful campus.”

The event will take place rain or shine and a trolley will be available for those who prefer to ride. For questions about the event, contact the Office of the President at 662-846-4000.

— All inauguration events are funded through private support to the Delta State University Foundation. No university funds are being used during the week of activities.

The Roberts-LaForge Library has long been a cornerstone of learning on the campus of Delta State University. With its abundant resources, it provides students and the community the tools needed for a successful education and the opportunity for advanced learning.

The building holds special meaning to President William N. LaForge, as it is partly named in honor of his father, Dr. William F. LaForge, who served 35 years at Delta State as a professor of history, chair of social sciences and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

President LaForge, who is gearing up for his inauguration, anxiously awaits the revealing of a unique book collection that will bring even more character to the library.

On Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m., a historic collection of about 375 literary works by authors from the Mississippi Delta and surrounding area will be unveiled as an inaugural donation from Greenville-based book collector Hugh McCormick.

The collection will be housed on the second floor of the library in its own permanent installation. The public is invited and encouraged by the president to attend the unveiling.

Delta State acquired this impressive private collection, comprised of mostly first editions and some signed copies, when McCormick’s bookstore in Greenville — McCormick Book Inn — recently closed its doors after 40 years of preserving and furthering Greenville’s rich literary history.

McCormick has dedicated the greater portion of his life collecting poetry, fiction and nonfiction works by notable Delta authors such as Walker Percy, Shelby Foote, Ellen Douglas, and current local writers like Charlotte Hayes and Gayden Metcalfe.

According to Delta State Archivist Emily Jones, a Greenville native, the bookstore was a cornerstone of the community. “He was a real bookstore owner. He knew his books and customers,” said Jones.

Jones and McCormick both agreed that while preserving the books was important, putting them behind a glass case would defeat the purpose and motivation behind the collection. People are invited to not only view the collection but to also read the books.

“It’s not about books sitting on a shelf to be admired,” Jones said. “It’s about reading, comprehending and appreciating the work of these Delta writers. McCormick has a huge respect for the well-written word and it is evident in this collection.

“He collected like no one else I know could have done — and he did so with sensitivity and care.”

McCormick dedicated much of his time, effort and resources to acquire this vast collection. Jones said, “I was honored that he thought of and chose Delta State to carry on his tradition of preserving and appreciating the history and literature of Delta writers.”

Most would agree that music adds emotion to film and performances, and the tone of celebratory emotion will be felt throughout events surrounding the inauguration of President William N. LaForge. Enhancing this emotion with music will be made possible at the Bologna Performing Arts Center on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. with a performance by the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra will perform “A Night at the Movies,” which features the music of John Williams’ best film scores. Laura Howell, executive director of the BPAC, provided highlights on the performance.

“Video clips from classic films such as ‘Superman,’ ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ and ‘Jaws’will be shown, followed by the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra playing a piece from the movie. This concert will especially highlight how music aids in creating an emotional experience for film,” said Howell.

The BPAC performance is the first inauguration event scheduled for Sunday’s activities. Dr. Myrtis Tabb, associate vice president of finance and administration, invites everyone to join the celebration.

“We are delighted that the Bologna Performing Arts Center annual members and staff will honor President LaForge in ‘Celebrating Excellence’ during the presidential inauguration week,” said Tabb. “The new twist of an orchestral performance of music with featured video clips from popular movies will delight the audience. President LaForge will be honored by a special musical piece dedicated to him.”

Also scheduled for that day is a reception in the Hazel and Jimmy Sanders Sculpture Garden, which was updated with nine new sculptures in August that will be on display for two years.

“The symphony and reception promise to be a fun afternoon for the whole family,” said Howell.

For a complete schedule of inauguration events, please visit inauguration.deltastate.edu. Follow President LaForge at president.deltastate.edu or on Twitter @presidentDSU. All inauguration events are funded through support provided to the Delta Stat University Foundation. No university funds are being used during the week of activities.

The Delta State University College of Business will proudly be recognized on Oct. 31, the final day of pre-inaugural activities in honor of Delta State’s eighth president, William N. LaForge.

“To have this opportunity to share with the campus and community the great contributions, accomplishments and pride of the College of Business is incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Cooper Johnson, chair of Entrepreneurship in Business Technology.

Faculty, staff and students of the College of Business are excited for the inauguration festivities, and the opportunity to highlight some of their accomplishments. These will all be in spirit of the inauguration’s theme — “Celebrating Excellence.”

“The inauguration of a new president at a university is an exciting time because this event focuses on the truth that education is the best investment anyone can make,” said Dr. Clint Wood, professor of Business Law and chair of Accounting, Computer Information Systems and Finance.

“The College of Business at Delta State is committed to preparing students for the Mississippi Delta and the world, and we greatly appreciate our guest speakers for assisting us in this great calling,” added Wood. “The final day before the inauguration will celebrate the opportunities that only education can provide and challenge us all to make this wonderful Delta and the world better.”

The college is recognized for offering students unique opportunities, like internships from companies such as FedEx in Memphis, Gresham Petroleum/Double Quick in Indianola and Sanderson Farms in Laurel.

The college’s Entrepreneurship in Business Technology center offers assistance to entrepreneurs, small business owners/managers, educators, students and people in the Mississippi Delta seeking to start their own business.

The center has accomplished 76 formed partnerships, 79 business counseling sessions, 31 speaking engagements, 13 Delta-area small business workshops, 13 scholarly accomplishments, 11 scholarships, and has helped small business owners obtain over $400,000 in grants for their operations.

Graduate students are given the opportunity to earn an online master’s in business administration in one year, with concentrations in general business, health care administration, human resource management and computer information systems.

The Department of Commercial Aviation, also under the college’s envelope, offers the state university system’s only undergraduate and graduate aviation programs, with degrees in aviation management and flight operation. Students are prepared for a variety of opportunities in the industry, including the airlines, aircraft manufacturing, airport management, air traffic control and military aviation.

College of Business inauguration events begin at 11 a.m. with a lecture series in the Baioni Conference Center of Broom Hall. The first speaker will be United States Representative Bennie Thompson of the Second District of Mississippi. He will be followed at 2 p.m. by James Morhard, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and survivor of the 2010 plane crash that claimed the lives of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and four others.

At 1 p.m. the college will host an open house in Broom Hall.

A reception for the final keynote Colloquia series speaker of the week, Jeff Lenn, professor of Strategic Management at the George Washington University School of Business, will start at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of E.R. Jobe Hall. Lenn will present at 4 p.m.

Lenn and LaForge worked together for more than 30 years at GWU, where Lenn was his department chair, dean and vice president. He has remained LaForge’s great friend and mentor since their time together at GWU.

His current research includes: design and implementation of political strategy; values and ethics in executive decision-making; corporate social responsibility; and business as a vocation and occupation.

Lenn has served as a consultant to corporations, trade associations, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. He also has extensive experience in management and executive development programs, both domestic and international.